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ASU Men’s Soccer Fifth in Preseason Poll

Lee Williams earned Preseason all-SoCon honors. Photo courtesy of SoCon Photos

Aug. 16, 2012. Appalachian State University men’s soccer was selected to finish fifth in the annual Southern Conference preseason poll, voted on by the conference’s eight coaches and released by the conference office on Wednesday. Senior defender Lee Williams was named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference team.

Furman was projected to capture its 20th regular-season title as the Paladins claimed five first place votes and 47 total points. Following Furman was last season’s regular-season champion, College of Charleston, tallying a first-place vote and 36 points. 

UNC Greensboro finished a point short of CofC with 35, claiming the third spot, as last season’s conference tournament champion Elon finished fourth with a first-place vote and 30 points.

The Mountaineers edged out Georgia Southern for the fifth position, claiming 26 points as GSU finished with 24 points and one first-place vote.

Wofford finished seventh with 14 points and Davidson rounded out the poll with 12 points. 

Williams, named to the Hermann Watch List on Monday, was selected to the Preseason all-SoCon Team after earning second-team all-SoCon a year ago. The Liverpool, England native was a key contributor of an App State backline that ranked No. 6 nationally in goals-against and shutout percentage.

ASU opens its preseason schedule on Saturday, Aug. 18 with an exhibition at High Point. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Mountaineers begin their regular season on Friday, Aug. 24 when they host East Tennessee State.

The SoCon Men’s Soccer Championships will begin on Nov. 3 on campus sites and will move to Cary, N.C. on Nov. 9 and 11 for the semifinals and championship match.

2012 Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll 

School (First-Place Votes)     Total Points

1. Furman (5)                           47
2. College of Charleston (1)     36
3. UNCG                                   35
4. Elon (1)                                 30
5. Appalachian State                 26
6. Georgia Southern (1)            24
7. Wofford                                  14
8. Davidson                                12

2012 Men’s Soccer Preseason All Conference Team

F       Chris Thomas, Elon
F       Coleton Henning, Furman
F       Martin Ontiveros, Furman
F       Hakan Ilhan, UNCG
MF    Sean de Silva, College of Charleston
MF    Gabe Latigue, Elon
MF    Hunter Norton, Georgia Southern
D       Lee Williams, Appalachian State
D       Walker Zimmerman, Furman
D       Aaron Reifschneider, UNCG
GK    Peyton Ford, UNCG